Metals for Use as Interior Design and Decorating Finishes
Types of Metals Used for Decoration
While we won't be covering every metal type available, we will cover the most commonly used metals in buildings and interiors. We will explain their properties and define the terms used in describing metals.
Why do we as interior designers need to know this?
You need to understand the application and use that the metal can be put to and why some metals cannot be used with others.
To quote Alan Everett, in Mitchell's Building Construction
" Metals can be defined as elements which readily form positive irons and which are characterised by their opacity and high thermal and electrical conductivity. "
To put it in layman's terms, they are so dense that light can't pass through them easily. They conduct (let it pass through) electricity (e.g. copper wire). They conduct heat (transfer the heat through the metal). They are usually hard. They are often mixed together by melting to form things called alloys.
The metals we use in building today all conduct heat and electricity,* are generally ductile (capable of being drawn out or hammered thin) and malleable (able to be bent or rolled) and are dense and strong.
*Note: Stainless steel bench tops are metal and are often close to electricity. It is therefore important that they are earthed.
There are two basic groups of metals as well as their alloys. They fall in to the categories of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous metals.
To Continue Articles on Interior Design and Decorating Interior Finishes - Metals - next page is Ferrous Metals
Ferrous Metals
Steel
Non Ferrous Metals
Non Ferrous Metals 1
More Interior Decorating Finishes - Menu
Carpet, what ist is made of and how it is constructed, it's appearance pitfalls, types of carpet, underlay, installation types.
Paint, how it is made, what are it's uses, oil based, enamel, acrylic, PVC paint, which paint to use.
Paint manufacture, recognising painting defects, specialist paints
Wallpaper, wallpaper defects, types of wallhangings, adhesives, stone flooring, timber flooring, hard flooring, vinyl flooring
Types of timber, countries of origin - South America,Canada / Usa, Europe, Africa, Pakistan / India / Burma / Sri Lanka / Malaysia / Indonesia, Australia / New Zealand / Pacific Island
Introduction to metals, types of metals, ferrous metals, non ferrous metals
Timber / Wood - What it is and how it is used in interior design, Trees and how we get timber, Properties of Timber - flexibility, colur, strength and more. Timber Deviations - grain and figure, Timber Based Boards - different types of boards made from timber. Uses for Timber - flooring, panelling, veneer, Timber Moldings- different types made from timber.
Decorative Painting, Faux Finishes, Decorative Finishes
Different types of fabrics, their definitions, the fibers used in making fabrics
